My mekhela chadar memoir

My mekhela chadar memoir is vivid and vibrant. I was probably five when my paternal grandmother died. But, I still remember her pristine everyday mekhela chadar look. A cotton silk crisp mekhela and a handwoven cotton chadar with a cream or ivory blouse. Her inner simplicity is reflected in her attire. On the other hand, my maternal grandmother, who carries a tea garden heritage, always wears a silk mekhela and a cotton silk chadar with a small border, typically in brown, green, or gray colors. Throughout the day, her pleats remain in the same place and position; her mekhela chadar reflects a strong woman who has stayed strong throughout her life. As I grew up, I discovered every woman's inner world with her mekhela chadar. My art teacher, who used to wear beautiful mekhela chadars with intricate embroidery, revealed her sensitive inner world to me. Back home in Assam, our domestic help, Hiramoni, wears her mekhela chadar or saree effortlessly and quickly throughout the day. 

 I feel embarrassed to say mekhela chadar is an impractical piece of clothing. Even though my affinity for mekhela chadar started early, I never actually wore it, and did so only on a particular occasion when it was really required. After moving to the USA, every time I visited Assam, I ended up buying mekhela chadars. I wore it once during Bihu, and after that, I didn't look back at it for the whole year. I always have an excuse that it's too difficult to wear, my pleats are clumsy, my drapes are imperfect. The sad part is that our generation always finds an excuse not to wear the mekhela chadar. At the same time, we forget that our previous generation cooked, slept, ate, and did chores in it. As you grow older, you probably recognize your style, and the same happened to me. Although I don't mind wearing Western silhouettes, I feel more comfortable in a mekhela chadar or sari, which no other outfit can replicate. Even though I am not yet there, when it comes to draping and pleats, I still cherish wearing them. My drapes are getting better with time, too. My mekhela chadar, which used to sit in the corner of my wardrobe, has started to see the light of the outside world. I look forward to wearing them and styling them according to my lifestyle or the occasion. I have dressed them for our Diwali and birthday parties, and many more. I was surprised that our lovely mekhela chadar is still entirely unknown to the rest of India. I sport them to many other occasions, and my non-Assamese friends have started to recognize them. I feel proud that my little effort of wearing mekhela chadar to non-Assamese events has given them recognition. It is always a pleasure to wear makhla chadar, as it is associated with my heritage and my roots, and the story of the painstaking efforts of the Indian hand loom
weavers.

P.S.:  Makhela chadar is an Assamese ethnic outfit. It can be easily disguised as a saree. A saree is a one-piece attire, and a mekhela chadar is a two-piece attire, consisting of a skirt (mekhela) and a scarf (chadar).